Anticipation

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:24-25 “For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Is there anything more annoying than waiting for that ketchup to make its appearance? The technique pictured here usually works but sometimes too well as a bigger glob than needed drenches everything! I can still remember the commercial playing the song, “Anticipation” by Carly Simon while waiting for the ketchup to come out of the bottle. “Anticipation, making me late, keeping me waiting.”

Our verse for today talks about waiting patiently for something a lot more important than ketchup! In our hope we are saved, as our confidence is placed in the One whose promises are sure. We continue our hope until it is fully realized in the coming of Christ. We look forward to all the blessings that are to come with hope and anticipation. When hope is realized, there will no longer be a need for it!

There are two ways to hope and wait for what is yet unseen: patiently or impatiently. To wait patiently is to wait with unwavering faith. Patient waiting makes one calm and unflappable. There is no fretting or doubting. Impatient hope is always questioning, doubting and fidgeting. Impatient hope can complicate life with plans and schemes to “help” God fulfill His promises as Sarah did in Genesis 16:3. Hope lived in patient waiting is certainly preferable!

We cannot see what is promised with our physical eyes and so we hope. But we are helped by seeing with the “eyes of our hearts.” Anticipation is sweet knowing with full confidence that the best is yet to come!